Thomas s



(Na Model.)

` T. S. SMITH.

BRAKB Pon VEHIGLBS.

' No. 401,224. Patent-,ed Apr. 9,1889.

THOMAS S. SMITH, OF VASIIINGTON, DISTRIOT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY OOPPERTHITE, OF SAME PLAOE. i

BRAKE FOR VEHIGLES.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 401,224, dated April 9, 1889.

I Application filed December 29, 1888. Serial No. 294,960. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. SMITH, of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brakes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows in side elevation a brakeio block constructed and supported in accordance With my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the same; Fig. 3, a similar view of the end of the brake-bar with the brake-block removed; and Fig. i, a transverse sectional view of the block, showing the manner of placing the same on the brake-bar.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in brakes; and to this end my invention consists in the brake and in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts thereof, as hereinafter specified.

In brakes as heretofore made the brakeblock has been attached to or held in place'on the brake-bar by various forms of fast-enings* such as nuts, set-screws, and pins-all of which have been detachable and liable to break or work loose, so as to leave the brakc-block free to work off of the bar and get lost.

It is the special purpose of my present invention to provide simple and efficient means for securely looking the brake-block on the bar without the use of screws, nuts, or other` objectionable detachable devices.

In the drawings, A designates the brakoblock, which can be of any desired material and general form or construction, and B designates the brake-bar, to which it is attached. As usual, the block has its face A', for engagin g the wheel O, made slightly concave to correspond in curvature with the wheel-tire, while at its back, or on the side opposite to such face, it has a socket or opening, A2, for receiving the stem or shank B' on the brake-bar. This socket or opening can be made through a single lug or projection on the block, but, as shown in the drawings, is in two lugs or ears, A3 A3, situated in line with each other at opposite sides of the back of the block, with a space ,between them.

The bar shank or stem B' is preferably made round in cross-section, as shown, the receiving-opening in the brake-block being correspondingly shaped,though I do not limit myself to such form. At the inner end of the shank B' the bar B has a shoulder, B2, adapted to engage the inner lug or ear A3 on the block, so as to hold'the latter from movement inward along the bar. On the outer end of the shank, in position to engage the outer side of the outer ear, is a lug, B3. To admit of put-ting the brakeblock on the shank, an offset, A4, is made at one side of the shank-receiving opening. 7With 6 5 the brake-block turned so as to bring this offset around to the lug B3, the block can obviously be slid directly upon the shank. As the block is slid on, the lug passes through the notch or offset until it reaches the outer end of the shank socket or opening. If now the block be turned on the bar shank or stem so as to bring the ofiset A4 out of line with the lug B3, the latter will obviously hold the block securel,T between itself and the shoulder B2, so thatit cannot come off or move longitudinally with reference to the bar. The offset for admittin g the passage of the lug is so situated, as shown, that when the brake-block is in place, with its whcel-tire-engaging face turned toward the wheel, it is out of line with. the lug. It is preferably so situated that with the block in operative position the lug and offset are at opposite sides of the bar shank or stem receiving opening A2. The block can- 8 5 not then get oif of such shank or stem without making a half-revolution thereon, which it cannot do as long as the wheel is in place.

To keep the block, supported as described, at its back from tilting, so as to bring its upper portion in contact with the Wh eel-tire when the brake is not in operation, I provide the block with a lug 01' shouldcr, A5, to engage the lug BS on the stein B' VVhen the lug B3 is, as shown in the drawings, on the upper side of the stem, the lug A5 is so situated as to engage the side of such former lug away from the brake-block face. Vith the stem-lug on the under side of the steln, the lug A5 would, obviously, be arranged to engage it on the side roo toward the block-face A' as shown in dotted lines.

My brake-block, constructed as shown and described, is slid onto the bar-stem and turned into operative position before the Wheel is put on, and after the Wheel is in place cannot get ofi of the brake-bar. It is held securely in place by the lug B3 Without the intervention or aid of any screw, nut, or other detachable device. As indicated hereinbefore, I do not limit myself to the two lu g or ear con'struction of the attaching portion of the block.

If desired, a single projection extending across the back of the block and having the shank-opening and offset A4 running through it from side to side can be used.

IIaving thus described myinvention,wl1at I claim is- 1. In combination with the brake-bar having a suitable shank or Stein, the brake-block having an opening to receive such stem, and a lug on the Stern engaging a portion of the block, so as to hold it in place on the stem, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination With the brake'block having the opening for reception of a support ing-steln, the brake-bar having a stem eX- tending through such opening, and a shoulder and lug at opposite ends of the opening to hold the block in place on the stem, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. In combination With the brake-block having the shank-receiving opening With an offset at one side, the brake-bar having a stem or shank to enter the opening in the brakeblock, and having the shoulder and the lug to engage the block at opposite ends of the opening, Wit-h the lug so situated as to be out of line With the offset from the opening' When the block is in operative position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination With the brake-bar having the brake-block-supporting shank and the shoulder and lug at opposite ends of such shank, the brake-block having the shank-receiving opening with an offset so situated as to be out of line With the lug on the shank when the block is in operative position, and

a lug or shoulder on the block to engage the lug on the stem, so as to limit the rotation or tilting of the block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of December, A. D. 1888.

THOMAS S. SMITH.

Witnesses: I I' I-IENRY O. HAZARD, CHAS. J. WILLIAMsoN. 

